Reviews - Magic Slays | The StoryGraph

1.15k reviews for:

Magic Slays

Ilona Andrews

4.23 AVERAGE

nymphread's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

After a few months away from this series, I was surprised by how seamlessly I got back into it. I immediately felt back at home in the Kate Daniels universe and was reminded of why I enjoy it so much - Kate is just such a great heroine. Protective, no-nonsense, gritty, and a total badass.

I really enjoyed this installment. Kate and Curran deepened their relationship here, and I loved how both of their personalities (and their personality clashes) were handled. It was also great seeing Kate step into her role as Alpha Female in the pack and learn to navigate conflicts in that space - true to form, Kate never let anyone intimidate her.

Ahhh, and it’s so cute to see Kate and Curran becoming an actual team and family. Watching Julie grow into that constellation was just heartwarming. Seeing Kate feel so motherly toward Julie and really parenting her made my heart full. After the earlier books, where Kate seemed resigned to being alone, it’s beautiful to see how much she’s opened up and changed.

Anyway, I loved this so much. Definitely diving into the next book ASAP.

sophiarose1816's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

As I re-read the series in audiobook edition, I am really enjoying listening in to the Graphic Audio edition full of sound effects, music, and a talented voice acting cast who bring the stories alive. Magic Slays had a few deeply emotional moments and these were done so well.

I appreciate how the authors blend an action-packed urban fantasy situation with Kate's personal character growth and her growth with Curran as a couple. She stumbled when the witch revealed hard truths about her past and made her question even Curran's honesty about their relationship. She is writhing under the stress of having loved ones to lose or get close enough to hurt her emotionally, but that was exciting to see her grow through it all.

Here's my original review:
This fifth installment of the series was as much an internal battle as the usual big, bad monstery external battles that Kate usually faces.

Kate has come to accept Julie as her child and all a parents fears and hopes with it, she is warily accepting matehood with Curran knowing that with two strong personalities that it is more like armed neutrality and she is vulnerable after giving her heart. There is also the comfort of friends and betrayal of her nearest and dearest to set her back on her butt. This is all just in time for the next adventure to catch up with her.

Kate has opened her new detective agency after walking away from the order and she is without a case. But then a co-worker in the form of a despondent Andrea, unasked for side-kicks in the form of Derek the werewolf and Ascanio the werehyena, and a case land in her lap almost at the same time. And boy is that case a humdinger. Solve it and she establishes herself at the top of her game, but fail and the whole city of Atlanta will pay.

I honestly don't have anything new to say after reviewing four novels and a few short stories in this series. I am eager for each story, I devour it and then I hunt up the next one. The world, the backdrop, the plot and the characters are magnificent.

sociallyawkward_bookworm's review against another edition

4.0

Magic Slays continued to deliver exactly what I've come to expect from a Kate Daniels novel. Some ass kicking, magic shenanigans, tempers, shapeshifters, and end of the world (or at least Atlanta) dangers. Book five and still loving it. I think this is a record!

chaotic_reddragon's review against another edition

5.0

Couldn't put it down, was holding my breath until the last page. Neeext!

nothingbutfantasyreads's review against another edition

5.0

Kate is trying to get her business up and running. It's not going very well. No cases at all. Until, Ghastek calls. The People lost control of a vamp and they need Kate to stop it.

I loved this book! This is one of my favorite series, but I really loved this one. So much going on, and so many different supernaturals coming together. On to the next one!